History

A flexibly-scheduled robotic telescope has many advantages over conventionally operated telescopes for effective and efficient exploration of the time domain. This area of modern astrophysics includes rapid response to targets of opportunity, long-term monitoring of variable sources and simultaneous observations with those at other wavelengths (particularly from space). The Liverpool Telescope (LT), which saw First Light on La Palma in July 2003, is the first of a new generation of large aperture, well instrumented robotic telescopes on excellent sites. Furthermore, it is well established that a global network of such instruments, effectively acting as one facility would allow astronomers to tackle some of the most pressing problems in modern astrophysics in ways single or conventional telescopes never could.

It was for this reason that a consortium of UK universities, led by St Andrews, proposed the creation of such a global network (RoboNet) in the first round of the Government's Joint Infrastructure Fund in 1999. RoboNet would comprise 6 telescopes, the first being the Liverpool Telescope, and the others placed at locations around the globe such that objects could be observed anywhere on the sky, at any time and continuously for as long as is scientifically important so to do. Ultimately, another telescope project, VISTA, was chosen for funding and under the JIF rules, no re-submission was allowed. Nevertheless, since 1999, the case for RoboNet as the ultimate tool for time domain astrophysics in fact strengthened considerably in terms of the science that can be addressed, the related facilities (both on the ground and in space) with which it will be associated and technological developments (such as the GRID project, eSTAR, and the start of operations of the UK's large robotic telescopes).

More recently, in response to PPARC's call for "Statements of Interest" (SoI's) two separate proposals (led by St Andrews and Liverpool JMU respectively) involving the establishment of copies of the LT in the southern hemisphere were submitted. Both projects focussed on detection of extra-solar planets, although by different methods. Use of these telescopes as part of RoboNet was highlighted. Although highly rated, it was evident that higher priority would be given to use of the LT plus the extant Faulkes Telescopes (clones of the LT) as a "proto-RoboNet" at this stage, in part as proof of concept, with well-focussed, finite lifetime scientific projects with well-defined deliverables.

Subsequently, as part of the cross-council bid "Conditions for Life" 2004 Spending Review, a robotic exo-planet search network (REX) was proposed and this was placed on the PPARC Roadmap by its Science Committee in 2003.

The RoboNet-1.0 project was formulated in late 2003 and presented to PPARC's Projects Review Panel in early 2004. Funding was approved in April 2004 by the research council's Science Committee and the project commenced in earnest in August 2004.